, 1887-04-30

AdIAluS lLIIOtSH,3 W 3& lenGDlS GruGnS remain.
Careful distinct1 Rbeing ma6e~between
the absolute and probable. 4 huskipg
party is now "a Msiin the ChurchAof
Christ. All the Ncern will be kept in
the d~octripsl him Ihei husks will be cast
away. ScieneestH barring down theology.
It's quantity PISS. bat the quality
is improving. - may be hard on the
hide. bound theologian, but it is a positive
help to religion. To the former the scientific
method is q sort of intellectual currycomb
vigorously applied. 1t makes him throw
back his ears, and inclines him to bite at sur
rounding objects but for all that the curry
ing will remove the dust and do him good.
To religion, however, the relation of science
is that of the dry-dock to the ship. It re-
moves the barnacles and moss that have
collected on her sides and impeded her pro-
gress. 1t takes out the rotten planks and
inserts new timber. 1t gives the good ship
Zion a coat of copper paint, which will pre-
vent further fanaticisms from fastening them
selves to her much abused hull. Christianity
was never SO spiritually powerful as she 10
to-day, and for much of this she is indebted to
science.
Religion is no longer the slave of the eler-
8y theology rather is becoming the two.
edged sword in the hand of religion. The
theologian of to-day, outside of his own realm;
80 4CdIIIu2 OS AlO0CbU 6kl1 0AAOW AL0 RAG9OS
Under the changed atmospheric conditions of
the nineteenth century he is changing his
build and temperament. He is broadening
out, becoming more reasonable and capable
of looking at things from q common-sense
standpoint. He begins to take delight in
positive facts, and is willing to let fancy take
herself off into the region of poetry. He is
learning to worship Christ more and tradition
less. Twell established truths clash with
his preconceived notions, he is frank enough
to say he is mistaken and ready to recon.
struct his theology.
Secondly, Science thus not only unburdens
Religion, she tends also to make her more
practical. Through such invaluable contribu-
lions as her doctrines of heredity and envi-
ronment, science is teaching Religion to i'm
prove her methods of work showing her, In
fact, how she may make men good from q
practical standpoint. She shows Religion
how prayer and praise should run in parallel
lines with improved and sanitary
regulations how Gospel temperance must be-
supplemented with physiological enlighten'
ment and O substitution of the cofee-house
for the saloon.
Science with all it's hard facts is converting
the gushing preacher into a practical re-
former. It is working off his fat and replac-
ing it with muscle. 1t is telling him to
come GOWN Oub Vi lie DdL1OOA AA61AVo VIVA 6oV
to work on terra trmG. Like the ostrich, he
must make more use of his legs and less of
his wings. He must try to enforce true and
undefled religion in business, politics and
social life, and talk less about Heaven. be
must set himself to work to make q few
wholesome adjustments on this side OF Jor.
dan.
Lastly, modern science has rendered fS31
gion a distinguished service by knocking
down the conventional wall which hitherto
has stood between the natural and the gd-
pernatural. It has taught us that, all truth
is of God, and that nature and grace belong
to one and the same realm. j. has com.
PEELED the Church to recognize, TIE physical
sciences as, SO many books in Gods material
scriptures, whose authority cannot be called
in question as long as they state facts and
are not numbered with the .~speculations of
individual scientists. More Aad more Chris
tianity is returning to the spirit Of it's Master.
in whom the natural. and spiritual seemed Co
be most beautifully blended who loved Ma.
ture with all his soul, to who1n every ily and
sparrow had it's moral lesson; who loved TO.
walk beside the Sea of Gaiilee in. holy
temptation, and pass the night IN prayer
Upon the mountain top ; who Heqhented the
synagogue, but preached more often IN Ehat
~grandest OF all scathedrals, %. which, thescar-
pet was the green grass and the .roDffthe,
hire ~ Heaven ToST,c 6r~TaE ~x~n~ = .@ssL..e